"Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum." Graycie Harmon

Friday, July 16, 2010

Interview with Haley Hatch Freeman, author of A Future for Tomorrow

Haley Hatch Freeman

Haley Hatch Freeman was raised on a cattle ranch in a small Utah town. She always has had a passion for the written word, but it wasn’t until after she’d survived a near-fatal battle with anorexia that she began writing seriously, feeling a need to share her story.

Her newly released memoir, A Future for Tomorrow, depicts her fight and triumph against anorexia and the spiritual journey she went on to reclaim her life.

Her book has received outstanding reviews and high ratings, especially by medical professionals and fellow writers.

Haley has been interviewed on television and radio discussing her book and experience. She spends much of her time as a public speaker, presenting to youth and women groups, hoping to touch and save lives.

Haley is a wife, mother of three, and American Sign Language interpreter for the deaf.

The following pictures were taken after gaining nearly 30 lbs. No photos exist of Haley’s lowest weight.

A Future for TomorrowSurviving Anorexia—My Spiritual JourneyA Future for Tomorrow is the extraordinary account of Haley Hatch Freeman’s battle against anorexia nervosa and her spiritual triumph against evil. Readers are brought into the anorexic mind, shown the fierce war sufferers face against depression and self-depreciative thoughts and actions, and witness the destruction this disease can create.Journey with the author to the eternal world, where angels confirm such truths as the intensity of Christ’s love and the sacred, holy nature of our Father’s plan for His children here on Earth.

I had the pleasure of reading Haley's book and felt privileged to share in the account of her journey as she battled an eating disorder that nearly took her life. Haley exposes her deepest emotions and experiences during this ordeal and allows the reader to gain a startling insight into the mental, emotional and physical changes that occur in a person who is suffering from this disease. I was unprepared for the places in her heart and mind that Haley was willing to allow the reader to witness.

Haley was wonderful enough to let me interview her.

M.B.: When did you realize you wanted to write a book?

Haley: When I knew I had a story to tell and was basically commanded to write it.

M.B.: What makes you passionate about writing?

Haley: The passion for my non-fiction works is fueled by the desire to help others avoid the heartbreak my family and I endured and to touch other’s lives. I’m playing around with a fiction series for young adults now because I fell in love with the entire writing to publishing process.

M.B.: I'm so excited to hear that you are going to continue writing. Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?

Haley: Getting a true story published is extremely difficult. When I was turned down at first I was very discouraged because I knew my book could change and even save lives. I dealt with it by having faith and being patient. Luckily, the Lord did provide away for my book to be.

M.B.: What is your writing schedule like?

Haley: While writing A Future for Tomorrow, the prompting to complete it was relentless. I couldn’t sit idle knowing it needed to be done. I have small children so I would mostly write tucked away in our office after my husband returned home from work so he could tend to the children. On my new writing endeavors I now have a laptop and neo so I can write while being in the same room as my children, which works out great—even if it is more segmented with interruptions.

M.B.: What do you hope readers will get from this book?

Haley: I hope to bring awareness and understanding about eating disorders allowing people into the mind of a person with anorexia. I want to help those who are suffering know there is hope to leave this illness behind forever as well as know they are not alone.

M.B.: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when you are writing?

Haley: I usually listen to music or have ambient noise of my children and their activities surrounding me.

M.B.: Do you use a critique group during the writing process? Why or why not?

Haley: I don’t have an official group but there are several people I always run my work by. I think the more people that can get their hands on your manuscript the better, even if at the end it is just helping with typos.

M.B.: What is something about yourself people don’t know?

Haley: My kids and I have an all-out dance party during every song on American Idol. My three year old daughter really knows how to rock out!

M.B.: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their manuscripts become books in print?

Haley: Pay for an editor to go over your manuscript before submitting to publishers and don’t give up, after each rejection submit again and again.

M.B.: What are you working on now?

Haley: I am super excited about my new project. I have written a picture book for children but it is meant to be read along with their parents. It provokes discussion about social pressures and media messages about weight and food. I’m thrilled that my illustrator is the very talented Lori Nawyn. I can’t wait for this book to see the shelves!

M.B: Has being an author opened any doors for other opportunities?

Haley: One of the neatest experiences I now participate in is public speaking. I speak to church groups, firesides for both youth and Relief Society, conventions, schools, and my favorite are Girl’s Camps! (Go to afuturefortomorrow.com and read under “public speaking” to learn more about the specific details of my presentations or to book me for your event.)

M.B.: Any final words you would like to share

Haley: One of the main messages I speak about whether it is on my blog, interviews, or a public speaking event is the importance of knowing your divine worth. I believe many of life’s trails, especially addictions, can be prevented if one knows their value and loves themselves. So I would like to end the interview with one of my favorite quotes.

“All of you need to drink in the gospel truths about the eternal nature of your individual identify and the uniqueness of your personality. You need, more and more, to feel the perfect love which our Father in Heaven has for you and to sense the value he places upon you as an individual. Ponder upon these great truths, especially in those moments when you might otherwise wonder and be perplexed” President Spencer W. Kimball

M.B.: Where can our readers go to find your book and order it?

Haley: my site afuturefortomorrow.com is offering free shipping and your order includes a signed book. It is also available in Deseret Book (deseretbook.com also) at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and now is ready to download for kindle at amazon.com (link for kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Tomorrow-Surviving-Anorexia-Spiritual-ebook/dp/B003UNKZY0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1278636800&sr=1-8 )

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About Me

My greatest claim to fame is my family. I am married to my prince charming and have four awesome children. This year I experienced the joy of becoming a grandmother to my sweet baby girl Halle. I love to travel and I love to write books.